Plan Under Way for Flu Vaccine Distribution

The Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention and Aventis have
agreed on a plan to distribute the
remaining supply of flu shots. Aventis
is supplying 55.4 million doses this
year. The goal is to target the vaccine
on hand to individuals who will benefit
the most, and to "do it in a way
that's fair and equitable to the greatest
number of people across the country,"
said Julie Gerberding, MD, director of
the disease centers, as reported in the
New York Times, October 13, 2004.

All but 22.4 million of Aventis' supply
has been distributed. Both the centers
and Aventis have agreed on where
to send 14 million of those doses. The
distribution of the remaining supply
would be determined later on based
on need, according to Dr. Gerberding.
Top on the list for the 14 million doses
will be places that take care of the
elderly and young children, as well as
the military.

The shortfall of the vaccine is the
result of the British government suspending
the manufacturing license at
the Chiron Corp factory in Liverpool.
Chiron had intended to supply 46 million
to 48 million doses of the vaccine
this year.